Would Good Times existed without Sanford & Son?

[GoldenTV]

Sanford and Son debuting on January 14, 1972 on NBC is credited for being first African American sitcom on mainstream TV. And then came Goodtimes two years later debuting on February 8, 1974. Both shows were produced by Norman Lear.

So I was wondering if Goodtimes would have materialized if Sanford and Son show never existed or produced later in the 70s?

In my opinion, answer to above question probably would be no. Or at least not the way Goodtimes was written. Show was too edgy, in a poor neighborhood with lower class living condition. TV network probably would have labeled it as too depress and real to be funny to be a sitcom.

Having said that, Jeffersons (debut January 18, 1975) probably would have being the first African American sitcom to claim that honor since that show was also produced by Norman Lear. It was more main stream than Goodtimes and came on the heels of All In The Family sitcom.

[TVFactFan]

Yes because Sanford and Son wasnt a family show. The other black family show probably wouldnt have existed in 1974 called that's my mama if there was no Good Times because that type of show had yet to be seen on TV

Good times led to That's my Mama and then that lead to Grady spinoff which was another black family sitcom that lead to What;s Happeneing

[GoldenTV]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Yes because Sanford and Son wasnt a family show. The other black family show probably wouldnt have existed in 1974 called that's my mama if there was no Good Times because that type of show had yet to be seen on TV

Good times led to That's my Mama and then that lead to Grady spinoff which was another black family sitcom that lead to What;s Happeneing

Its really hard to predict what show would have existed or not without being influence by preceding TV shows or movies. For example, What’s Happening probably would have not existed without the Movie Cooley High which came out in 1975.

Or Sanford And Son might not have existed without the Movie When Cotton Comes To Harlem released in 1970.

Too bad shows What’s Happening and That’s My Mama didn’t have endurance of shows like S&S or GT and being canceled too early. Season 1 of That’s My Mama, and first and second season of What’s Happening are funniest sitcom shows of 70’s.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by GoldenTV

Its really hard to predict what show would have existed or not without being influence by preceding TV shows or movies. For example, What’s Happening probably would have not existed without the Movie Cooley High which came out in 1975.

Or Sanford And Son might not have existed without the Movie When Cotton Comes To Harlem released in 1970.

Too bad shows What’s Happening and That’s My Mama didn’t have endurance of shows like S&S or GT and being canceled too early. Season 1 of That’s My Mama, and first and second season of What’s Happening are funniest sitcom shows of 70’s.

That's my Mama was cancelled because it was a awful show. what's happening was cancelled due to the cast members leaving. What's happening did well in the ratings it's first two season. That's my Mama was never even in the top 40 during either season because the cast was not funny

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

what's happening was cancelled due to the cast members leaving.

I read that Fred Berry and Ernest Thomas had been making demands and then Fred Berry accused the producers of being racists and then one of the producers said something along the lines of, "Since you think we're racists then we'll just cancel the series."

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by DJM77

I read that Fred Berry and Ernest Thomas had been making demands and then Fred Berry accused the producers of being racists and then one of the producers said something along the lines of, "Since you think we're racists then we'll just cancel the series."

It's kind of weird to make demands if the show is not in the top 10

[GoldenTV]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

That's my Mama was never even in the top 40 during either season because the cast was not funny

I really like That’s My Mama (first season only) as mama play by Theresa Merritt was very funny character. The show had potential, but producers ruined it by too many character changes in season two. It wasn’t funny anymore.